Stencil hand stamp



Sept. 18

G. 'T. PRITCHARD STENCIL HAND STAMP Filed March 24 1921 INVENTOR Ill WITNESSES gem/044W ATTO R N EY Patented Sept. 18, 1923.

STATE GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

s'rnnon. HAND sranrr.

Application filed March 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,175.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PRITOHARD, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stencil Hand Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to stencil stamps for addressing or otherwise imprinting shipping tags or the like, and its object is to provide a simple device of small and cheap construction designedto use imprints in stencil form and wherein the stencil slips may be readily changed as indicated. The device makes possible and easy the making of any number of impressions of any desired matter, either in the form of facsimile typewriting, handwriting, or drawnwork.

The invention comprises a body member capable of manufacture in most part of sheet metal, with a handle which may be grasped by the hand and provided with a porous or foraminous container for ink, with a pad through which the ink is distributed and a holder for a replaceable stencil, permitting the application of the address to a tag or package in such manner as to prevent smearing, the construction being such that a cushion-like effect is produced so that the result of the printing is neat.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detaile'd description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims. 1

In the drawing:

,Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stencil stam as viewed from above and with the stencil omitted.

out of sheet metal, and is indicated as in rectangular shape, with one face 2 in the form of a rectangular frame through which there is produced an elongated opening 3 enclosed by the frame 2. That face of the body member 1 remote from the frame 2 has transverse lips 4 at opposite ends of the body member and turned one toward the other.

Fitted to the face of the body member remote from the frame 2 is a top or cover 5 of a size approximating that of the top area of the body member, but sufficiently shorter to allow the top 5, which is in the form of a flat plate, to slide at the ends under the lips 4 and constitute a substantially tight closure for the body member. One long side of the cover 5 has a short prolongation 6 and the corresponding long side 6 of the body member 1 is correspondingly cut away to allow the cover 5 to seat in the cut-away portion. Moreover, the lips 4 at the ends remote from the cut-away side 6 are shortened as indicated at to provide an entrance for the cover so that it may rest fiat uponthe upper edge of the corresponding long side of the body 1 indicated at 6".

The cover 5 also is provided near each end with snap springs 7 made of strips of elastic sheet metal riveted or otherwise fast at one end to the cover and projecting at the ends corresponding to the side 6* of the body, being there formed into snap hooks 8 holding the cover in place when it is in closing relation to the body member 1. Furthermore, the cover is provided with a handle 9 fast thereto, whereby the stamp may be readily manipulated, such handle being located in the particular showing of the drawings aboutmidway of the length and breadth of the cover. This handle serves also as a means for sliding the cover.

There is also provided an ink distributing pad 10 of felt or other suitable material, built in truncated pyramidal form. The pad is produced in three layers 10, 10 and 10, in the particular showing of the drawings, (Fig. 3) the layer 1O being of a size too large to pass through the opening 3 of the frame 2, while the layer 10 fits snugly in the opening 3 and the layer 10 is or may be made of the same thickness as the layer 10 and is of less area so that the layer 10 is wholly outside of the body 1 while the pad is maintained connected to the casing, al-

though in most part outside thereof, by the thinner and larger layer l0 resting on the inner face of the frame 2.

Contained within the casing 1 is a foraminous receptacle 11, shown as made of finely perforated metal, although not necessarily confined to such material. The receptacle 1]. is of a size to snugly, yet freely fit in the casing 1 and of a depth to bear upon the layer 10 of the pad 10 to clamp the whole pad in place.

At opposite ends of the body 1, exterior thereto, are clips 12, with inturned elastic fingers 13, capable of receiving end portions 14 of a flexible stencil frame 15. For convenience the stencil frame 15 may be made of tough paper or cardboard and is provided with a central elongated, and preferably rectangular opening 16, covered by a sheet 17 of suitable paper, such as is commercially known as fiber stencil material glued or otherwise made fast to the frame 15, although other material, suitable forthe purpose, may be substituted for the particular kind of material named. At each end portion 14 of the frame 15, there is formed a notch 18 suitably shaped to permit the frame 15 to be introduced atits ends under the fingers 13 of the clips 12, thus holding the stencil frames to the stamp without liability of the stencil frame escaping from the clips under conditions of use but permitting the interchange of stencil frames whenever desirable.

When the stencil stamp is assembled for use, an appropriate quantity of ink, such as is customarily used in connection with stencil stamps, is placed in the receptacle 11, after the cover is removed but because of the porous or foraminous construction of the receptacle 11, it is unnecessary to spread the ink in the manner customary with inking pads, while the pad 10 causes the desirable distribution of the ink which appropriately wets the pad throughout its exposed area. The stencil paper 17 in the frame 16 may be prepared with an address in the usual manner of preparing stencils on typewriters and this stencil is then applied to the pad 10 in contact with the layer 10 and the stamp is used in the usual manner, while the stencil sheets or frames are changed from time to time as desired.

The invention has numerous advantages over structures of like nature as heretofore proposed, in that the stencil is susceptible of being attached and detached quickly and with ease and there is no necessity of soiling the-fingers in so doing, for there is nothing about the stamp to fasten or unfasten'in order to attach or detach the stencil. The paper or cardboard frame 15 of the stencil has been found in practice to impart sufficient rigidity to it to hold it in place when the end notches are inserted under the fingers 13 of the clips 12. At the same time, the stencil is sufficiently flexible to admit of the slight bending necessary to slip the notched ends in place and the stencil frame is also sufficiently flexible to allow it to give, dueto the cushion effect of the backing pad. Moreover, the marginal frame of the stencil permits it to be indexed and filed for future use.

The layer 10 of the pad being somewhat larger than the layer 10, serves to absorb any ink which might exude from the printing layer. which is the smallest layer of the pad and the one contacting directl with the stencil sheet 17. Moreover, the progressively diminishing area of the pad to the stencil sheet, and its superior thickness, gives it great ink retaining capacity and increases the cushion like effect which contributes to the positive and neat results obtained. Furthermore, the

pyramidal construction of the pad increases its stability and prevents sagging after con tinual use.

Beside contributing to the ease of inking the pad because it is not necessary to distribute the ink with a brush, the pad itself doing the distributing. the ink chamber prevents dust from accumulating on the ink smeared perforations, and therefore this feature adds to the neatness of the device.

In my Patent No. 1,445,447, based upon an application filed subsequently to this application, I have claimed the generic features of this invention, leaving for this application the protection of the specific construction.

What is claimed is v 1. In a stencil hand stamp, a casing having means for receiving and distributing stencil ink including a pad projecting therefrom, clips rigidly mounted on the opposite ends of the casing and narrower than the pad from which the clips are spaced by the casing, and a stencil frame having its ends bearing on said casing and each end provided with a notch of a size to permit the ends of the stencil frame to be engaged with the clips and held thereby, the projection of the pad from the casing causing the stencil frame to be flexed inwardly at its ends where entering the clips.

2. In a stencil hand stamp, a body member having one face in the form of a rectangular frame surrounding an elongated opening, means provided within the body member for receiving ink, an ink distributing pad fitted in said opening and projecting therefrom, clips rigidly mounted on the opposite ends of the casing and narrower than the casing 3. In a stencil hand stamp, a casing having tact with the pad, said frame being provided means for receivin and holding stencil ink, at each end With a notch of a size to permit it a pad applied to t e casing and projecting the ends of the stencil frame to be flexed and therefrom, clips at the ends of the casing prointroduced into the clips and held from lat- 5 vided with inturned elastic fingers, the eneral movement.

trance tothe clips facing inwardly toward In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the pad b'ut spaced therefrom, and a stencil my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD.

frame having a stencil sheet therein to con- 

